Aston Villa have staved off interest from rival clubs in crown jewel Ciaran Clark by tying up the rookie defender on a new contract until the summer of 2014.

Clark has signed a three-year extension to his current deal which was due to expire at the end of this season.

It is a major boost for boss Gerard Houllier to keep hold of the young centre half who was linked with a move to Manchester United last month.

Clark has become an important member of Houllier's first team squad after making his senior debut under Martin O'Neill last season.

Following a clean sheet on his winning Premier League bow against Fulham last August, Clark has gone on to make four more starts and two substitute appearances, including a clean sheet against Chelsea.

The 21-year-old has captained England at various age groups, but recently switched his allegiance to the Republic of Ireland, for whom he is qualified to play through his Irish parents.

Clark, who has also been successful as Villa's reserve team captain, is now waiting for his first senior international call-up.

He has been at Villa for the past 10 years and seems to have moved ahead of Carlos Cuellar and Curtis Davies in the central defensive pecking order behind Richard Dunne and James Collins.